Family Dispute Over Alcohol Leads to Felony Assault Charge

Brian Smith (38) of Segal

Darren Doyle, story:
A Segal man was arrested on a felony assault charge after an altercation that stemmed from a disagreement over alcohol, according to an arrest citation.

In a press release from the Edmonson County Sheriff's Office, law enforcement stated that they were called on January 16, 2026 with a complaint of an assault that allegedly took place on the previous day. The caller stated the victim was hospitalized and deputies conducted an interview with the alleged victim at the hospital later that day, according to the press release.

According to the arrest citation, the victim discovered that a quantity of his whiskey was missing, which resulted in the victim confronting a family member. The citation stated the victim said as he pointed his walking stick at the family member in the confrontation, a separate individual identified as Brian Smith (38) of Segal tackled the victim to the ground.

The victim also claimed, according to the citation, that Smith threatened to kill him if he hit the other family member.

The sheriff's office stated that deputies then responded to a residence in Segal in an attempt to locate Mr. Smith. Upon making contact and advising him that he was under arrest, Mr. Smith attempted to flee back inside the residence and resisted deputies by pulling away and refusing to place his hands behind his back, according to the sheriff's office.

Smith said that the victim struck him with the walking stick, which was the reason for the tackle, according to the citation.

According to the arrest citation, the caller of the incident told law enforcement that the victim was suffering from a punctured lung.

Smith was arrested and charged with:

• Assault, second degree (Class C Felony)
• Terroristic threatening, third degree
• Resisting arrest

He was transported and lodged in the Hart County Jail and remains on a $5,000 cash bond.